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Dealing with bereavement

What is the 'cost of dying' in 2024?

by Richard Howlett

• Published 01/02/2024

When forced to think about death and dying, we usually consider the emotional and mental costs that it will bestow upon ourselves and our loved ones. However, if we take a more pragmatic approach, then we can start to consider the ‘cost of dying’ as relating to the actual monetary cost of a person’s send off.

How much does a funeral cost in the UK in 2024?

The last two years saw the basic funeral cost go down in the UK, but the trend has changed for 2024, and the basic funeral cost has gone up by 4.7% to an average of £4,141.

A burial remains the most expensive type of funeral at an average of £5,077, whereas the direct cremation is the most affordable option at £1,498, which explains why that has had a surge in popularity over the last few years.

If you’re interested in direct cremation, then take a look at our previous blog article titled ‘Can I have a funeral notice for a direct cremation?’

What is the total cost of dying in the UK in 2024?

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The cost of the funeral is only one aspect of the total ‘cost of dying’. For that we need to also think about the cost of the wake and the flowers, the cost of administering the estate, plus any professional fees. Once you’ve added all these together you get a total which rose by 5% in 2023, meaning that the total ‘cost of dying’ in 2024 is £9,658.

There are ways that you can cut down on the costs though, such as spending less on flowers or catering, opting for a cheaper coffin, or even hosting the wake at home.

For more statistics regarding funeral costs and how people are paying for them, then take a look at SunLife’s full ‘Cost of Dying Report 2024’. All the information shared above comes from that very informative report, and there’s a lot more contained within it if you're interested.

Alternatively you could read this article by The Daily Post which breaks down the report a little further.

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